2026 Articles

The Department of Financial and Professional Regulation adopted amendments to the Part titled Consumer Legal Funding Act concerning refinancing and pro rata fees.

On Dec. 4, 2025, the Illinois Supreme Court held that a 30-day imprisonment sanction is not a sentence under the County Jail Good Behavior Allowance Act and therefore does not entitle defendants to good-conduct credit.

The General Assembly amended the School Code to prohibit schools and law enforcement from issuing monetary fines, fees, tickets, or citations to students for municipal code violations committed on school grounds during school hours or while taking school transportation. 

The General Assembly amended the Illinois Administrative Procedure Act to require the Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE) and the Office of the State Fire Marshal to develop clear, definitive guidelines for developing threat assessment procedures, rapid entry response plans, and cardiac emergency response plans.

On Dec. 18, 2025, the Fifth District of the Illinois Appellate Court held that a weapon conviction based on a prior juvenile adjudication did not violate the Second Amendment.

The Department of Revenue adopted amendments to the Part titled Income Tax, expanding the regulatory framework applicable to entities engaged in small consumer lending.

The Illinois General Assembly amended the Illinois Explosives Act regarding licensing, enforcement, storage, and transportation requirements for explosives. The Act updates statutory definitions for explosives, explosive materials, magazine keepers, water gel, and consumer fireworks. 

The General Assembly enacted the Child Welfare Disclosure to Parents Act, which provides that parents involved with the Illinois child welfare system are guaranteed certain rights. 

On Nov. 26, 2025, the Fifth District of the Illinois Appellate Court held that granting summary judgment in favor of the defendant was proper in a wrongful-death suit because the plaintiff failed to establish a genuine issue of material fact that would support an allegation of willful and wanton misconduct by the ambulance crew.

On Dec. 19, 2025, the Third District of the Illinois Appellate Court held that repeated safety complaints are sufficient to state a claim for retaliatory discharge.

On Dec. 15, 2025, the First District of the Illinois Appellate Court held that parental rights may be terminated where unfitness is proven by clear and convincing evidence, the parent did not make reasonable progress in the reunification plan, and termination is in the child’s best interest.

On Dec. 15, 2025, the Second District of the Illinois Appellate Court held that an indictment alleging theft of “United States currency” was not fatally defective where the evidence showed the defendant unlawfully obtained wages through electronic direct deposits.

On Oct. 2, 2025, the Fifth District of the Illinois Appellate Court held that trust assets may not be used to pay off an encumbrance absent express terms of the decedent’s trust or will establishing intent for trust assets to be used for the encumbrance.

On Dec. 15, 2025, the Second District of the Illinois Appellate Court held that admitting a forensic laboratory report through a surrogate analyst violated the defendant’s confrontation clause rights.